Motown founder Berry Gordy had a simple strategy. He wanted to make his records appeal to everyone, Black or white, which is how and why he came up with the slogan “The Sound of Young America.” ...
The Motown icon, however, said signing the future “Thriller” singer and his brothers was a no brainer, and she did know that Michael was special. “How did I know [they had the ‘it’ factor]?
An entire genre – or at least sound – was born in the space of this ... the Temptations and the Jackson 5, this former Motown recording studio became a hit-making machine from 1959 to 1972.
Some 60-plus years later, Motown stands as a piece of living history — a flashpoint where African-American recording artists would find mainstream success. These include names like Marvin Gaye ...